Spring Break is not far off, and that means the kids will be home from school and looking for fun things to do. Here in Dutchess County, we’ve got you covered!
There are plenty of family-friendly events and attractions this time of year in the heart of New York’s Hudson Valley. The kids will love it here (and so will the grown-ups)!
Here’s a handy-dandy list of the Top 10 Kid-Approved Spring Break Adventures in Dutchess County.
Have a blast and take lots of pictures! Share your photos here and be sure to tag @DestinationDutchess on social media.
Open every day, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. by reservation, at the Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo at the Millbrook School, Millbrook
The Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo is home to 170 indigenous and exotic animals — including several endangered species. Established in 1936, it is one of only 237 zoos in the U.S. accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is the only zoo in the country located at a high school. Students at the Millbrook School have the unique educational opportunity to work with, care for and learn about the animals. The zoo is open seven days a week by appointment. Click here to book your reservations.
Beginning March 20 at Four Brothers Drive-In, Amenia
Four Brothers Drive-In opens for the season on March 20 and will show double features on weekends (they are open seven nights a week later in the season). Enjoy blockbuster double features back-to-back from the comfort of your vehicle, along with a vintage slice of Americana. Be sure to snag some tasty treats from the Grand Shack, including hot dogs, burgers, lobster rolls and ice cream. Arrive early and play a round of mini golf. Click here to check the up-to-date movie schedule and to reserve your parking spot.
Related: Find your family’s new favorite places with the Connection Finder, a mobile passport featuring a curated itinerary of family-friendly attractions, activities, and out-of-the-ordinary sights.
Select dates at Dia Beacon
Dia Beacon is home to an impressive collection of contemporary art (from the 1960s to the present). As winter melts into spring, the gallery at the heart of Beacon's buzzing arts scene hosts two programs that are sure to captivate the even youngest artistic minds. The Saturday Studio Learning Program (ages 5 and older) offers free workshops full of art-making, material experimentation and play led by practicing artists. The next Saturday Studio events are set for March 14 and April 11. All families participating in the Saturday Studio program receive free admission to Dia Beacon for the day. The Play Sets Learning Program (ages 5 and older) helps aspiring artists explore Dia's galleries through in-depth engagements with a single artist or artwork. Each program will include hands-on exercises that invite participants to see, think, and imagine in new ways. Upcoming Play Sets events are set for Feb. 28 (Renée Green), March 7 (Senga Nengudi), March 21 (Max Neuhaus), March 28 (Jack Whitten), March 29 (Michael Helzer), and April 4 (Robert Irwin). Plus, don't forget, the last Sunday of each month is Hudson Valley Free Day at Dia Beacon!
Saturday and Sunday, March 21–22 and 28–29, at multiple locations
Maple production in New York is among the highest in the United States, and Dutchess County is home to several family-owned, high-quality maple syrup companies offering sugarhouse tours, family-friendly activities, tastings and more during the New York State Maple Producers Association’s Maple Weekend celebration. Maple Weekend events are planned at Soukup Farms in Dover Plains and the Sharpe Reservation's Camp Hidden Valley in Fishkill. Click here for updates.
Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at Dutchess Community College, Poughkeepsie
Head to Falcon Hall at DCC for the Poughkeepsie Children’s Book Festival and meet and greet authors and illustrators whose works cover reading ages from preschool to young adult. Have your picture taken with your favorite costumed book characters and make some fun crafts. Books will be available to purchase — and to have autographed by the ones who created them. Click here to see the dozens of authors and illustrators scheduled to participate.
Tuesdays–Saturdays 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m.–5 p.m. (closed most holidays) at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, Poughkeepsie
Located on the Poughkeepsie Waterfront, the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum offers all sorts of kid-friendly exhibits and programs that are designed to captivate, develop and inspire young minds. The fun and educational experience is perfect for kids 12 and younger. With the “Science Revealed!” exhibit, children and families can engage in a full-body physical exploration of motion, air, forces, fluids and electricity. In “Early Learning Junction,” kids ages 4 and younger can develop skills they’ll need for school. For those eager to dive even deeper, the STEAM Lab offers hands-on opportunities to explore a variety of scientific fields. Whether it’s experimenting with engineering concepts, exploring the principles of chemistry, or engaging in creative technology projects, guests can roll up their sleeves and become scientists for the day. Every visit offers fresh discoveries and fun-filled learning experiences. Be sure to take advantage of Family Free Nights on the third Sunday of each month; the museum is open until 7:30 p.m., and admission from 5:30–7:30 p.m. is absolutely free!
Related: Among the Top 10 Dutchess Events in March is the Movie Thyme screening of "Beauty and the Beast" at Flores Restaurant and Bar.
Animal experiences abound at these Dutchess County farms (stay tuned for details and availability for the spring):
• Barton Orchards, Poughquag
• Clover Brooke Farm, Hyde Park
• Elk Ravine Farm, Amenia
• Greig Farm, Red Hook
• Kesicke Farm, Rhinebeck
• Lilymoore Alpaca Farm, Pleasant Valley
• Ruby Hill Farm, Clinton Corners
• Stony Kill Farm, Wappingers Falls
Wednesdays at the Gravity Vault, Poughkeepsie
Are the kids at home climbing the walls? Bring them to the Gravity Vault indoor rock-climbing facility and let them climb all they want! Every Wednesday, the Gravity Vault offers $14 day passes for climbers under 21 with a valid student ID. They also offer discounted Top Rope Belay classes for students on Wednesday nights. Click here for details.
Select dates, April through September, at Heritage Financial Park, Wappingers Falls
See tomorrow's stars of Major League Baseball today with the Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the world-famous New York Yankees. The Renegades, who helped current Yankees Anthony Volpe, Jasson Dominquez and Austin Wells make it to "The Show," play 66 home games each season in the South Atlantic League. Every trip to the ballpark is filled with excitement and family-friendly fun both on and off the field, including theme nights, contests, activities and postgame fireworks on select nights. A Renegades game at Heritage Financial Park is a thrilling experience that is accessible to all; in addition to ADA-compliant parking spaces, seating areas and restrooms, there is an elevator and a ramp to help fans reach the upper levels of the stadium, including the WMC Health Club. The Curemark Sensory Safe Suite is a welcoming and engaging place where families and groups with members on the autism spectrum can enjoy the game, insulated from over-stimulating sounds and activities, like music, fireworks and raucous cheers. The Renegades open their season at Heritage Financial Park with a five-game homestand against the Wilmington Blue Rocks beginning April 7. Click here to see the full schedule and to purchase tickets.
Ongoing at Multiple Locations through Apex Kitchen Rx
Chef Cynthia Madden, a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, hosts a variety of cooking classes for kids, teens and families. They're perfect for any aspiring young chef who wants to take their skills to the next level. Click here to learn more.
Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3, 10 a.m. at Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Staatsburg
The Mills Mansion at Staatsburgh State Historic Site will host a pair of fascinating tours geared toward kids ages 9–12:
• April 2: "Service to Society: Life at Staatsburgh" — Children will learn how life was lived in a Gilded Age mansion more than 125 years ago. Included in this two-hour program is a tour of the opulent home of Ogden and Ruth Livingston Mills, followed by hands-on activities that allow participants to compare the lives of the servants and the gentry.
• April 3: "Surviving the Titanic: An Interactive Writing (and Illustrating) Workshop" — Mark the 114th anniversary of the sinking with a two-hour creative writing and drawing workshop at the home of Titanic ticket holders Ogden and Ruth Mills. As participants tour the mansion, DC Comics editor and writing instructor Alisa Kwitney will offer written and visual prompts inspired by Titanic passengers’ tales of survival and courage.
